Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives and nationally recognized academic programs. Northern has a population of about 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Ask a few Northern students what drew them to our university and you will get a variety of answers. That's because there is no single thing that make students want to go to Northern; it is ALL the things that we do here. Northern is big enough to offer a wide variety of academic programs but is also small enough that every time you walk across campus, you'll probably wave "hi" to someone you know.

Curiosity is the raw ingredient of knowledge. It causes us to ask questions, to seek answers, to learn. At Northern Michigan University, natural curiosity and intellectual challenge meet in stimulating classes grounded in the liberal arts. So wherever your curiosity leads you, you can count on the support you need to take the next step, ask the next question, propose the next hypothesis.

Marquette, home of Northern Michigan University, was ranked as one of the safest college towns in America, according to The SafeWise Report. Northern takes pride in having a campus that is caring, inclusive and ready to take action in light of safety concerns. Northern encourages students, employees and visitors to make themselves familiar with the resources and services available for assistance in matters of safety.

The mission of the Northern Michigan University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Sports and the United States Olympic Training Site is to create an environment that promotes academic excellence, interpersonal growth and social development; embraces diversity; teaches lifetime leisure skills; fosters spirit and tradition; and builds a lifelong connection to NMU.

Yes, you'll attend your classes, but what else will you be doing as a student at Northern? There's so much stuff to choose from. There's a student organization or club – almost 300 at last count-- for just about every interest. If you're into investigating the paranormal, anime or improv comedy, there's a group. Cheer on your fellow Wildcats at a hockey game or volleyball match. Join a competitive club sport or an intramural team. The sky is the limit.

Athletic Aid Information

How is athletic aid determined?

Coaches decide how much aid to award each athlete, and have a limited amount of scholarships available. They typically offer a percentage of allowable costs. Each scholarship is offered on a one-year basis. Subsequent year scholarships and amounts are at the discretion of the coach and Athletic Department. Once a student-athlete accepts an award offer, the information is forwarded to the Financial Aid Office to incorporate into the overall financial aid award package.

What are the eligibility requirements for athletic aid?

To be eligible for athletic aid a student must be admitted and eligible to continue in enrollment at NMU and must meet all applicable conditions (institutional, NCAA) for athletic competition and athletic financial aid. This includes meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and Progress-Toward-Degree Requirement determined by the NCAA. This also includes full-time enrollment in a baccalaureate or graduate-level degree program for any semester during which athletic financial aid is being received.

Which costs are allowable?

The NCAA allows the following: tuition, mandatory fees, room and board (for both on- and off-campus students), and books.

Tuition/Fees: to calculate a full-ride scholarship we will use the full-time tuition charges for students based on whether the student is a resident or a nonresident, or a graduate student. If a student exceeds 16 credit hours or has a tuition differential charge, we will automatically increase the full-ride amount to include these charges. Mandatory fees include the University Fee and Student Activity Fee.

Room/Board: Consistent with the Cost-of-Attendance budget, we will only use the room/board double occupancy rates for the traditional residence halls for all students and the base required meal plan. We will not recalculate the budgets when students opt to live in more expensive accommodations, whether The Woods, NMU apartments, or off campus. This is a choice that the students are making.

Books: We always use the standard $800/year figure as outlined by the NCAA manual.

Other: Division I we include the Miscellaneous and Travel figures from the Cost-of-Attendance. For incoming students, we can include the one-time athletic fee. For international students, if charged to the student's NMU bill, we will include health insurance charges and the one-time NMU documentation fee charge. For the Art & Design students, if charged to the student's NMU bill, we can include the $250/semester MacBook fee.

What does equivalency mean?

Coaches award athletic scholarships based on a percentage of costs, that percentage is the equivalency. For example, a student who has a scholarship valued at one-quarter of the allowable costs would have a 25% equivalency. A “full-ride” scholarship would be a 100% equivalency, meaning all the allowable costs are covered. To calculate the dollar value of an equivalency, the following formula is used:

allowable costs x equivalency % = athletic scholarship amount

Estimated allowable costs for the 2019-2020 Academic Year:

Michigan Resident

Lower Division

(0-55 credit hours)

Lower Division

(0-55 credit hours)

Upper Division

(56+ credit hours)

Upper Division

(56+ credit hours)

Living On-campus

Living Off-campus

Living On-campus

Living Off-campus

Tuition & Fees

$10,944

$10,944

$11,470

$11,470

Room & Board

10,986

9,716

10,986

9,716

Books

800

800

800

800

Total Allowable Costs

$22,730

$21,460

$23,256

$21,986

Michigan Resident -

Living at home with family (Commuter)

Lower Division

(0-55 credit hours)

Upper Division

(56+ credit hours)

Commuter

Commuter

Tuition & Fees

$10,944

$11,470

Room & Board

4,858

4,858

Books

800

800

Total Allowable Costs

$16,602

$17,128

Non-Resident

Lower Division

(0-55 credit hours)

Lower Division

(0-55 credit hours)

Upper Division

(56+ credit hours)

Upper Division

(56+ credit hours)

Living On-campus

Living Off-campus

Living On-campus

Living Off-campus

Tuition & Fees

$16,550

$16,550

$17,334

$17,334

Room & Board

10,986

9,716

10,986

9,716

Books

800

800

800

800

Total Allowable Costs

$28,336

$27,066

$29,120

$27,850

*Other allowable fees include the one-time athletic fee charged to all new students, required charges through the International Programs Office for student health insurance and one-time documentation fee. Course related fees will not be included.

Sample calculation:

For a Michigan Resident student-athlete, the total of allowable costs is $22,730. If a 35% equivalency were offered, it would equate to $7,956.

$22,730 x .35 = $7,956

Athletic Scholarship Estimator: This calculator allows prospective students, families and athletic personnel to calculate an estimate of their pending athletic scholarship. Please note that the estimate provided from the Athletic Scholarship Estimator does not represent a final determination, actual cost award, or financial assistance. The estimates are not binding; they are estimates provided in good faith with what information was available at the time. Also, please remember that the price of attendance and financial aid availability change year to year. Final award amounts will be communicated to you once you have signed a scholarship tender.

Can student-athletes receive aid in addition to athletic scholarships?

Yes! However, there are certain regulations which must be followed.

The total amount of aid a student receives cannot exceed the overall NMU cost of attendance (which includes some additional items, such as estimated personal and travel expenses, not included in NCAA allowances). Information on NMU’s general cost of attendance can be found at www.nmu.edu/finaidCOA.

Division I (Hockey) Student-athletes who qualify for NMU academic scholarships must meet certain NCAA requirements in order to receive this academic scholarship in addition to the athletic scholarship.

For Division I athletes (Hockey only), one of the following criteria must be met (Per 2016-2017 NCAA Division I Manual):

High School Rank: Be in the top 10% of the high school graduating class

High School GPA: Achieve a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.50 (per final high school transcript)

SAT Test:

If SAT Test is before March 1, 2016: Score 1200 or higher on the SAT (This sum may be comprised of the best component results from multiple SAT exams.)

If SAT Test is after March 1, 2016: Score 1270 or higher on the SAT (This sum may be comprised of the best component results from multiple SAT exams.)

ACT Test:

Have an ACT sum score of at least 105 (This sum may be comprised of the best component results from multiple ACT exams.)

A cumulative NMU GPA (once established, after one year) of at least 3.00 for Division I may be used on a year-by-year basis to determine how NMU academic scholarships are counted. (So an NMU academic scholarship could be counted as part of the athletic award for some years and not others if no qualifying high school/test score criteria are met.)

Students who do not meet any of the above criteria will have NMU academic scholarships counted as part of the athletic award. For example, if a student-athlete’s initial athletic aid is determined to be $7,000, but the student also qualifies for the NMU National Academic Award valued at $5,600, the athletic aid would be reduced to $1,400 if none of the NCAA criteria listed above are met.

Private scholarships will need to be followed up with to determine if the scholarship is from an "established and continuing program". Determination will be made either through accompanying documentation, or website review, or direct contact with the grantor, or student follow-up.

Students receiving athletic scholarships will not be eligible for NMU's need-based Board of Trustee Grant.

Summer Aid Eligibility: Student Athletes will be eligible for summer athletic scholarships covering up to 4 credit hours. Summer Aid will be calculated at the same equivalency rate as athletically related financial aid during the previous academic year, up to 4 credit hours. Additional credit hours, room/board, and books will be the responsibility of the student. Only courses enrolled in by June 1st will be considered. Withdrawn course will result in the cancellation/reduction of the scholarship.

NMU athletic aid may only be used to cover some expenses of an NMU-sponsored study abroad program. These allowable expenses are the same as those permitted for regular NMU courses - NMU tuition, fees directly associated with tuition, standard room and board allowance, and books. Examples of non-covered expenses include (but are not limited to): study abroad program fees, airfare, and passport costs.